- Preface
- Preface to the second edition
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- The Wisdom of God's Works
- Govern the Body
- Adherence to a Simple Diet
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- Develop Ability
- Temperance in All Things
- The World No Criterion
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- Deep Breathing
- Superstitions Concerning Night Air
- The Influence of Fresh Air
- Scrupulous Sanitation
- Use Simple Food
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- Nonuse of Flesh Meats
- Avoid Gluttony
- Lessons From the Experience of John the Baptist
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- A Deceitful Poison
- Abstinence From Narcotics
- Self-Denial and Prayer
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- Healthful Dress
- The Power of the Will
- Suitable Employment
- Control the Imagination
- Moderation in Work
- Temperance in Labor
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- Frequent Bathing
- How to Preserve Our Sensibilities
- To a Brother
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- Self-Development a Duty
- Temptation Through Appetite
- Appetite Ruled Antediluvians
- Intemperance After the Flood
- Esau's Experience
- Israel Desired the Fleshpots of Egypt
- Intemperance and Crime
- Our Youth Lack Self-Control
- Responsibility of Parents
- Evils of Meat Eating
- Proper Preparation of Food a Duty
- Wrong Eating Destroys Health
- Too Frequent Eating a Cause of Dyspepsia
- Evils to be Avoided
- Eat Slowly
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- Partakers of the Divine Nature
- Result of Disregarding Light
- Faithfulness to the Laws of Health
- Healthful Cooking
- Learn to Cook
- A Most Essential Accomplishment
- Unwholesome Bread
- Changing the Diet
- A Harmful Combination
- Unpalatable Food
- An Impoverished Diet
- Extremes in Diet
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- Overworked Mothers
- Gluttony a Sin
- Avoid False Standards
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- The Example of Christ
- Nature a Lesson Book
- In the Country
- The Source of Healing
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- Exercise, Air, and Sunlight
- The Original Plan
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- Simpler Methods
- A Proper Balance of Physical and Mental Labor
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- Health and Efficiency
- Periods of Relaxation
- Sunlight in the Home
- Prohibited Amusements
- Exercise as a Restorer
- Walking for Exercise
- The Evils of Inactivity
- Open the Windows of the Soul
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- The Church Qualified for Service
- Living Waters for Thirsty Souls
- Sanitariums and Gospel Work
- Plants Needed in Many Places
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- Agricultural Advantages
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- Mammoth Sanitariums Not a Necessity
- Amusements in Our Sanitariums
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- Denominational Views Not to Be Urged Upon Patients
- For All Sects and Classes
- Medical Treatment, Right Living, and Prayer
- Centers of Influence and Training
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- Wholesome Substitutes
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- The Secret of Success
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- Health Reform at the Sanitarium
- Results of Faithful Effort
- Maintain a High Standard
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- Not Among the Wealthy
- Not for Pleasure Seekers
- City Conditions
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- Advantages of Wooden Structures
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- Loyalty to Our Institutions
- The Sanitarium as a Missionary Field
- Adherence to Principle
- To the Glory of God
- The Chaplain and His Work
- Hold the Truth in Its Purity
- For the Welfare of Others
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- Tact Essential
- Dealing With Sentimentalism
- The Ennobling Power of Pure Thoughts
- Criticizing and Faultfinding
- Results of Fostered Sin
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- Co-operation Between Schools and Sanitariums
- Equity in the Matter of Wages
- Economical From Principle
- Compensation
- No Exorbitant Salaries
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- Sanitarium Workers
- Recognition of Honest Labor
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- Simplicity and Economy
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- Ready for Every Good Work
- Bearing Witness to the Truth
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- Patience and Sympathy
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- Physicians to Conserve Their Strength
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- Each One in His Place
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- Dangers in Success
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- Qualifications Needed
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- Faith and Works
- Gratitude for Health
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- Obedience and Happiness
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- House-to-House Work
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- Efficiency Depends Upon Vigor
- Integrity Among Workers
- Steadfastness
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- Waves of Influence
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- In Our Schools
- A Lack of Economy
- Our Influence
- Need of Opportunity for Christian Culture
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- Gospel Workers to Teach Health Reform
- The Temperance Reform
- At the Camp Meetings
- A Good Work Made Difficult
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- Teach With Wisdom
- The Right Exercise of the Will
- Sign the Pledge
- Premature Tests
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- Sanitariums Needed in Washington and Other Places
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- Indifference and Unbelief
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- The Ruin Wrought by Satan
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- The Invitation
- Objects Lessons in Health Reform
- Why Conduct Sanitariums?
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- An Illustration
- The Breadth of the Work
- Clear New Ground
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- Rebellion Against Health Reform
- Not a Separate Work
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- In Faith and Humility
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- A Means of Overcoming Prejudice
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- The Ministry and Medical Work
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- Lights Amid Darkness
- A Lesson From Solomon's Fall
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- The Price of Health
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- Extremes in Dress
- Immodest Dresses
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- The Only Safety
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- An Advance Step
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- The Need of Consecration
- Total Abstinence
Control the Imagination
[Testimonies for the Church 2:522-525, (1870).]
In the creation of man, the Lord designed that he should be active and useful. Yet many live in this world as useless machines, as though they hardly existed. They brighten the path of none, they are a blessing to none. They live only to burden others. So far as their influence on the side of right is concerned, they are mere ciphers; but they tell with weight upon the wrong side. Search the lives of such closely, and scarcely an act of disinterested benevolence can be found. When they die, their memory dies with them. Their names soon perish; for they cannot live, even in the affections of their friends, by means of true goodness and virtuous acts. With such persons, life has been a mistake. They have not been faithful stewards. They have forgotten that their Creator has claims upon them, and that He designs them to be active in doing good and in blessing others with their influence. Selfish interests attract the mind and lead to forgetfulness of God and of the purpose of their Creator.CH 95.1
All who profess to be followers of Jesus should feel that a duty rests upon them to preserve their bodies in the best condition of health, that their minds may be clear to comprehend heavenly things. The mind needs to be controlled; for it has a most powerful influence upon the health. The imagination often misleads, and when indulged, brings severe forms of disease upon the afflicted. Many die of diseases which are mostly imaginary....CH 95.2
Some are so afraid of air that they will muffle up their heads and bodies until they look like mummies. They sit in the house, generally inactive, fearing they shall weary themselves and get sick if they exercise either indoors or out in the open air. They could take habitual exercise in the open air every pleasant day, if they only thought so. Continued inactivity is one of the greatest causes of debility of body and feebleness of mind. Many are sick who ought to be in very good health and thus in possession of one of the richest blessings they could enjoy.CH 95.3
I have been shown that many who are apparently feeble, and are ever complaining, are not so badly off as they imagine themselves to be. Some of these have a powerful will, which, exercised in the right direction, would be a potent means of controlling the imagination and thus resisting disease. But it is too frequently the case that the will is exercised in a wrong direction, and stubbornly refuses to yield to reason. That will has settled the matter; invalids they are, and the attention due to invalids they will have irrespective of the judgment of others.CH 96.1
I have been shown mothers who are governed by a diseased imagination, the influence of which is felt upon husband and children. The windows must be kept closed because the mother feels the air. If she is at all chilly, and a change is made in her clothing, she thinks her children must be treated in the same manner, and thus the entire family are robbed of physical stamina. All are affected by one mind, physically and mentally injured through the diseased imagination of one woman who considers herself a criterion for the whole family. The body is clothed in accordance with the caprices of a diseased imagination, and smothered under an amount of wrappings which debilitate the system. The skin cannot perform its office; the studied habit of shunning the air and avoiding exercise, closes the pores, the little mouths through which the body breathes,—making it impossible to throw off impurities through that channel. The burden of labor is thrown upon the liver, lungs, kidneys, etc., and these internal organs are compelled to do the work of the skin.CH 96.2
Thus persons bring disease upon themselves by their wrong habits; yet, in the face of light and knowledge, they will adhere to their own course. They reason thus: “Have we not tried the matter? and do we not understand it by experience?” But the experience of a person whose imagination is at fault should not have much weight with anyone.CH 97.1
The season most to be dreaded by any going among these invalids is winter. It is winter indeed, not only outdoors, but in, to those who are compelled to live in the same house and sleep in the same room. These victims of a diseased imagination shut themselves indoors and close the windows; for the air affects their lungs and their heads. Imagination is active; they expect to take cold, and they will have it. No amount of reasoning can make them believe that they do not understand the philosophy of the whole matter. Have they not proved it? they will argue. It is true that they have proved one side of the question,—by persisting in their own course,—and yet they do take cold if in the least exposed. Tender as babies, they cannot endure anything; yet they live on, and continue to close the windows and doors, and hover over the stove, and enjoy their misery. They have surely proved that their course has not made them well, but has increased their difficulties. Why will not such allow reason to influence the judgment and control the imagination? Why not now try an opposite course, and in a judicious manner obtain exercise and air out of doors?CH 97.2